[James Waggoner]

Moving to Billings area next month...looking for some general creek and river information, good fly shops and brew pubs.

I've been to the Billings area a few times visiting family, but never fished that area of Montana. What can I expect and when?

I know this is a Washington Fly Fishing site but am aware there are a lot of you who either live, have lived or frequent Montana. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

James.

 

[Abomb]

You can expect it to be awesome all the time! Grab a map and head south and west. So much good fishing water it's not funny. Go to the Beartooths!! Amazing fishing and hiking.

 

[Kyle Smith]

I like the beer at Angry Hank's. They have two Applebee's and three Wal-Marts if you count Laurel. Ditto on the Beartooths.

 

[Old406Kid]

Don't know much about fancy beer but you can get a year around, minus the shitty weather days, "fishing fix"
on the Bighorn with alot of other choices within an easy day.
FYI-My mom's favorite Walmart is the one in Laurel.

 

[James Waggoner]

Got a great view of the Beartooth range out my back door. Definitely a spot I intend to explore.

I'm sure this may sound a little silly but... With the Yellowstone just a half mile down the road, at this point a large river, can I effectively fish it like a steelhead river but for large browns? Was thinking they may be in similar water types and just as apt to chase a swung fly...is my thinking correct? Just trying to figure out what I do with
my 14' + rods.

I'll do a search for Angry Hank's.

 

[freestoneangler]

There's a little obscure river called the Big Horn that might be worth a look. If that end up being a dud, you could try the Stillwater, Boulder and that other blue snake known as the Yellowstone. A friend from college ended up as an FBI agent after his military stint and was stationed in Billings. He only found fly fishing a fancy some years after he was transferred to Oklahoma... how's that for bad timing.

 

[Kyle Smith]

Got a great view of the Beartooth range out my back door. Definitely a spot I intend to explore.

I'm sure this may sound a little silly but... With the Yellowstone just a half mile down the road, at this point a large river, can I effectively fish it like a steelhead river but for large browns? Was thinking they may be in similar water types and just as apt to chase a swung fly...is my thinking correct? Just trying to figure out what I do with
my 14' + rods.

I'll do a search for Angry Hank's.

Head down to the bridge at Pompey's Pillar and night fish for channel cats. And yes, there are trout in the Billings stretch but not as many as 30 miles upstream.

 

[Old406Kid]

Head down to the bridge at Pompey's Pillar and night fish for channel cats. And yes, there are trout in the Billings stretch but not as many as 30 miles upstream.

YUP!!! and yup on the trout, getting better all the time.

 

[James Waggoner]

I'll be upstream between Parkcity and Laurel.
...catfish really not my thing...catch on flies?

James

 

[Guest]

Growing up in Bozeman, Billings was the 'big city'. I fished the Musselshell (bait) and had some great small fish days. My cousin once hooked a huge whitefish (of some sort) on his dad's halibut rod...and it broke the line. We saw it rolling and could make out individual scales. At least that is what the 10-year old me remembers.

Billings has done a lot of what Tacoma did ten years ago, it has started to become a cool downtown area.

The nice thing is that Livingston and Bozeman are easy trips. The 80mph speed limit makes for a quick drive.

I am extremely partial to the western 1/3-1/2 of Montana, but there are very few bad parts.

Get used to waving to your neighbors. The ones who wave back are either locals (2nd, 3rd, 4th generation) or just 'get it.' The livin' can be hard in montana, but the friendships are easy.

 

[James Waggoner]

Have made two trips back in the last 6 weeks, moving stuff into the new place, I've experienced the wave...i suppose ill need to get a little more friendly and start waving back.

 

[Tracker]

The trout fishing here is just horrible.
Welcome to Montana.

 

[Old406Kid]

Have made two trips back in the last 6 weeks, moving stuff into the new place, I've experienced the wave...i suppose ill need to get a little more friendly and start waving back.

If you hang around the locals long enough you'll probably be catfishing too.
Seriously, the catfish was on bait but we throw out the cat rods and then fish for some really respectable Smallies with the fly rods.
Most of the moving water trout options are easy to find and if you have any interest in hiking and alpine lakes, I can't say enough about those in the Beartooth's.

 

[Old Man]

On the wave. Here in Dillon they only wave at you on the back roads. On the Blacktop nobody waves.

 

[Old406Kid]

On the Blacktop nobody waves

Unless it's with the middle finger.

 

[Guest]

On the wave. Here in Dillon they only wave at you on the back roads. On the Blacktop nobody waves.

Oh shit, I wave at everybody on all roads. Must be a tourist thing !

 

[James Waggoner]

Unless it's with the middle finger.

Now that you mention it, maybe it was the one finger wave...hard to tell when the are passing me at 85 to 90 and I'm mentally stuck at 65mph...

 

[Old Man]

Is the speed limit in Washington up to 80 or is it still at 75. I try to stay off of Freeways. I drive the scenic route or on the frontage roads. I'm happy driving along at 60. I guess you slow down when you get older. Heck I don't drive over 70+ on the freeways anymore.

 

[James Waggoner]

Washington is 70MPH on the interstate. I hear you about slowing down...I'm almost 45, which isn't old, and I feel 70+ MPH is excessive. Here in Washington I just set my cruise at 68 and stick to slow lane.

 

[James Waggoner]

Doing some research on the alpine lakes...wow there are tons of little alpines lakes in the Beartooth Mts!

Thanks for all the info so far. I'll do some research on the Stillwater and other area creeks and streams aside from the Yellowstone River.

James